A Florida man was arrested for defrauding a 74-year-old Texas woman out of $250,000 by posing as tech tycoon Elon Musk. According to local authorities, Jeffrey Arthur Moynihan Jr., 56, was arrested at his Bradenton residence and is charged with grand theft.
In 2023, Moynihan allegedly made friends with the victim on Facebook while posing as the CEO of SpaceX and Tesla. Under this pretense, he convinced her to send the money by promising her an incredible $55 million return on her investment. According to police investigations, the victim lost $600,000 in total, with accounts under Moynihan’s control accounting for over half of that amount.
Detective Jim Curulla, tipped off by investigators in Texas, traced the money trail back to Moynihan’s business accounts at Jeff’s Painting and Pressure Washing LLC. Authorities disclosed that the victim believed she was genuinely interacting with Musk, as the fraudster used detailed updates based on real news to build credibility and foster trust.
“The victim was convinced Elon was her friend and a legitimate business partner,” a Bradenton police spokesperson explained. Over time, Moynihan convinced her to make multiple transactions, allegedly for investments in Musk’s businesses.
When confronted by police, Moynihan appeared confused, repeatedly asking, “Grand theft of what?” He later claimed the money was intended for an online girlfriend, suggesting he might have fallen prey to a separate scam.
Investigators in Texas are currently collaborating with authorities to find the victim’s remaining funds. The real Elon Musk, meanwhile, is unrelated to the lawsuit and was busy with a SpaceX launch. Police in Bradenton stressed the value of being alert to internet frauds, especially those that prey on the weak. It is a clear reminder of the increasing complexity of internet fraud schemes as the investigation progresses.